Universal Reversal

by **Ricky Maze** on November 3rd, 2012, 11:57 pm

Universal Reversal
Fall 56, 512 AV

Upon the late starry night sky of the star's that shone ever so clear, like little beacons that represented hopes and dream; one man drifted within the deepest body of water. Relaxed as he floated along the smooth waves Ricky felt deep inside his earnest desires flare up, and they too would allow him to become a star.

He floated on as he knew this was a dream, or at least it had to be. How would he be in the middle of the vast ocean with not a speck of land anywhere? How could it have immediately changed to night when last he checked it was broad daylight? Most importantly, how did he know that he was safe in the vast unknown? He really didn't have all the answers, just felt that this ocean wad part of him. Always was and always will be, but tonight that ocean would set him free.

His world seem to shift as the sky that floated above exchanged places with the stars, as the reflective surface played mirror with the sky they traded places; and where Ricky should've began to sink the amazing happened. He began to float.

Slowly he began to ascend as the ripples of the ocean released him, his expression surprised and his emotions running free; Ricky could feel his ascending pick up as the water below now took form of the star's.

It was a beautiful sight as he gazed all around, in awe of the beacons that shown all around. He felt he wasn't alone however, as another was soon joining him. One that would be intertwined in this dream.

One that would share the burden of their troubles.....

OOC :

by **Lixue** on November 4th, 2012, 4:03 pm

Lixue was in someone's arms, her back to his front. The bed they lay on smelled of sex and, strangely, a mixture of herbs. A light sheet grazed her thigh, whispering against her skin. A stray strand of dark hair lay against Lixue's cheek, kept there by the light sheen of sweat drying on her skin. One hand lay under the pillow Lixue's head rested upon, the other tucked close to her chin. Her green eyes took in the environment.

If Lixue did not already know someone lived her, how she knew she did not know, Lixue would have easily assumed the room was empty. No personal touches littered the walls, no half read books, and the only dirty clothes on the floor were the ones they had hastily shed. A lamp was lit and shed light from its sitting place on top of a desk. The flame danced and created odd patterns on the wall behind. Everything was neatly organized and nothing looked like it had been touched within a week. The man was a busy person, apparently.

The man was drawing lazy circles over her bare hip, higher each time. Every now and then, he placed butterfly kisses on her exposed shoulder. Rough hair tickled her skin when he did. His legs were intertwined with hers; pale against dark. Lixue released a content sigh and leaned back against the hard wall of his chest when his hand was sidetracked at her chest.

With a gentle hand, the man pulled Lixue's face toward his by his hand on her chin. Lixue's eyelids fluttered downwards and she welcomed the feeling of his lips urging her to forget everything on her mind, to waste a few more moments in his bed before ducking out the door and pretending she had never been there. Lixue gave in and one hand slipped up to grip his hair, like she would not be able to during the day, when she pretended she was nothing more than another person.

Almost unconsciously, she rolled toward him. The sheets rustled and the bed shifted under their weight. Neither paid any mind, consumed in each other. Hands wandered, sighs escaped, and emotions tangled. Lixue's head tipped backward as his mouth ravaged her throat. One word slipped from her mouth in a feverish moan, "Ly.."

Both froze. This man was not Ly.

As Lixue's eyes opened and she shifted to get a better look at the man's face, she became aware of a disturbing fact. Her husband was dead. The coil of heat low in her stomach died. The hand holding his hair tightened, turned his head up toward her.

But there was not a face looking back. Only a blank mask surrounded by dark hair. The lips she had given into were gone. Lixue jerked away, removed her hands in a hurry. Confusion spiraled through her mind, interlaced with indecision and betrayal. Lixue blinked, willing the image away, willing the pain to leave. When she opened them...

The image, the man, the room, was gone. In its place were stars as far as the eye could see. And she was moving, flying through space. If Lixue had glanced around, she might have noticed the stars were changing as she flew. They were gaining shape and changing. Turning into things she might have recognized.

Lixue was not surprised to see the person in front of her, also flying. Somehow she had expected him. Even welcomed the sight, a little. When her bubble joined with his, Lixue lost her confusion and betrayal. Somehow, this person would understand. He had to.

by **Ricky Maze** on November 4th, 2012, 9:42 pm

Ricky could see the stars all around him, some blinked out with without warning. As if they had no real significance, however a number of stars still remained around as he felt the presence of another. Of course someone else would he here, which is why this dream appeared so vivid to him. It only seemed to happen when others were involved.

He turned to find a woman, nude and lost in a daze. She beautiful and foreign to him, and though he was tempted to he stared only to her face instead of elsewhere. She was beautiful there too, exotic in a sense that Ricky never knew he'd feel. Aside from that though if she was joined here with him then the dream had something to show them, but what it was he couldn't say. After all dreams are full of infinite possibilities, this one likely reflect on both of their inner beings.

As Ricky took notice of one of the star's, he recognized a face glowing within. One that made a great difference since his birth. It was his father. Why he could see that within the star he didn't know, but showed the face of his pa like it was a memory as it grew bigger. What was this?? Why was he seeing this??

He looked to the woman once again, now convinced that what he was seeing was in fact the dream. "We're dreamin', of what exactly I dunno." He stated, but now wondered something. Why did he know it was a dream? Usually his dreams wouldn't allow him to know until it was too late. Then it was clear, this was no dream....it was a sign.

by **Lixue** on November 4th, 2012, 10:41 pm

The man was not a person Lixue knew. He had dark, short hair and tan skin. Whoever he was, he had a large build and was over a head taller than Lixue. The height and weight difference made Lixue feel tiny, petite. She ignored his traveling gaze, trying to knock herself out of her stupor. Surprisingly, it worked when their bubbles interjoined. Pressing into the outer layer of the bubble, she was surprised to find the outer lay gave way even as the space they stood on remained solid.

Lixue was confused. This was a dream? But it felt so real. Thinking back, Lixue shuddered. Previous dreams had seemed so real as well. Including the one where Ly was... killed. She had seen it happen in the dream, knew it to be true, yet had woken to screams and tears. If this was a dream, why was it different than the one that normally plagued her? The thought caused her mental pain, trying to solve the imaginary problem.

Instead of answer, Lixue turned her gaze back toward the sky surrounding them. The stars winked at her, twirling in place. Lixue blinked, trying to remove the confusing image. Focusing on the stars made her eyes hurt. And then.. something miraculous happened. One of the stars grew. At first, Lixue thought it was simply moving closer to them. But a head popped out of the center and then a hand shoved at the outer edge of the star, which responded by stretching to accommodate the individual. Another hand popped out, and then a leg stretched through the gap. Finally, the body popped away from the star and floated in space.

It was her mother. The dark hair and skin gave it away. The white outfit she wore gave it away. The color changing eyes and highlighted hair gave it away. The dark skin gave it away. The look in her eyes gave it away. The short, petite stature gave it away. The sweet smell of orchids gave it away. Then again, Lixue would always easily recognize her mother. The woman had raised her and her siblings with the help of Lixue's father. The woman had taught Lixue how to properly clean a wound. The woman had taught her how to be patient, how to be trustworthy. How it is a great satisfaction to help others and medicine is a very reward career to go into. The woman had been Lixue's rock through the years, had helped her make difficult decisions. Had been there when Lixue was first learning how to use a cane, had even been there when Lixue was injured.

Lixue was uncertain of what her mother was doing in, what the man claimed, the dream. Then again, why was the man in the dream?

The moment of wondering was short lived. Natal came closer and closer, awkwardly floating in space. Even though she had left the star behind, Natal still glowed slightly. Lixue reached out toward her mother, to comfort her. Natal was crying, but Lixue did not know why. Natal reacted accordingly, tried to touch her fingertips to Lixue's. They passed right through.

What did not, however, was the fur-lined robe Natal handed Lixue. Until now, Lixue was not aware she had been nude. Yes, she had left the man's bed, but Lixue's mind did not make the connection. Gingerly, Lixue stepped into the robe. Natal helped her, pulling the robe closed. Natal's lips grazed Lixue's brow and Lixue leaned into the caress. When she opened her eyes, her mother was gone from sight.

Lixue tried to figure it out. Natal had appeared out of nowhere, handed her a robe, and kissed her forehead. What did it mean? The question was tossed around in Lixue's mind. Did it mean Natal was a true mother? Or that she always looked after her daughter? Or that Lixue needed to cover up, on more than one level? Was Natal saying goodbye? The questions were too many and answers too few. Lixue tried to figure it out, but ended up giving up.

"Why?" she questioned the man. Why are we here? Why is this happening? Why were random things growing from stars? Why was her mother kissing her forehead and then disappearing? Why was her mother not able to touch her, but could give her a solid object? Why did nothing make sense? Why were there no answers? Why had she been in a stranger's arms? Why... Just why?

by **Ricky Maze** on November 4th, 2012, 11:25 pm

A woman appeared in front of the girl, by the look of the events that followed her mother. She was confused as to how this was all happening, as well as why it was happening too. Ricky hadn't the answers she wanted, only that the dream could reflect anything their hearts and souls sought. Yet why were they not in control? No doubt because in this dream they are meant to witness something, something Ricky didn't know but felt was going to be...unwelcome.

She put on the robe and asked why, and Ricky could only remember what a friend once said. "Threshold of Revelation." He was sure now that what they would see be a sign, a sign to what though? Of what nonetheless? He knew not what the dream held, but his understanding of it would soon come to grasp.

The star that showed his father in memory shriveled in its growth, finally no longer able to contain it's beautiful form it imploded before there eyes. Fear and heartbreak filled the void for his emotions, his understanding not yet grasping at what such as event meant. As the star became nothing traces of its luminous beauty fell from what would've been its center, powdery crystals that vanished ad they were now swept into the vast abyss of space.

His heart sunk as he stood watching, still trying to grasp it's meaning in all of this. The bubble they were within could be heard making an odd scraping noise, mysterious in its own behavior. Now that Ricky thought of dad though, he began to feel what he thought was an idea of this dream.

"That star ye' saw go out... It was my father...I lost 'em when I was just agin' to manhood." Two more star's began to grow before them as the rest danced around, their insides glowing brightly to show what important ties they bore. One was a woman, she had red hair wild like fire and in her eyes a soul of passion and love. Ricky wasn't sure of his connection to this woman, only that by a certain feeling that wasn't there before he finally knew who she was.

"Mum?" He mumbled as he stared, her beautiful face smiling with passion. He felt as if she was starring right at him, smiling because she was proud of who she was.

The other star was no doubt the memory of somebody important to the lady, for though it was only a hunch Ricky had a feeling he was probably correct....and if be were; then maybe his idea on what this dream was about was correct.

by **Lixue** on November 7th, 2012, 2:03 pm

"Threshold of Revelation," Lixue murmured, feeling the words roll off her tongue in the sing-song voice all Vantha had. What did it mean, exactly? Were they on the verge of some giant revelation? Were they stepping into a revealing moment? Were they going to learn something from this... dream? If so, what? And what would it matter, if this was only a dream and not real? What would it all matter? The questions fluttered through Lixue's mind, pulsing with the need to be answered. Only.. Lixue did not have answers. Did not know how to figure out the dream's riddle. Was only aware that she was along for the ride, whether she liked it or not. The only important question was: How well would Lixue enjoy this dream?

With confused eyes, Lixue watched the man interact with a star. The child of the sky exploded, scattering emotions. The dust practically glowed in the dark, still losing life as the particles fell and disappeared into the night sky. Lixue was uncertain of what this meant, but felt it was important and significant to understanding the dream. To understanding why they were there and what they were to learn. Or, at least, Lixue tried to hope this was the reason. Otherwise, she was clueless and being out of control scared her beyond belief.

When the man explained who was hidden inside the star, Lixue reached out with a shaking hand and laid it on his shoulder. Gently, she squeezed, offering both friendship and sympathy. Perhaps they were meant to be here for a reason. Perhaps there was something both needed to know and, even though Lixue did not know this man, she felt a connection to the stranger. Not a physical connection, but an emotional one. As if a clear string was connecting the two of them. In such a place, Lixue would not have been surprised to see the string actually form.

But the dream had another take on Lixue's thought. Instead of hooking the two of them together, the stars began to bounce in place. As if... as if they were connected on a vibrating string. When Lixue looked closer, squinting her eyes to better see into the dark, she discovered something that made her jerk back in shock. The black sky was falling apart! Piece by piece, flake by flake, black chunks of the sky fell. The stars remained in place, still bouncing. In between the cracks, a silvery light was showing. The design of the silver was emphasized only at the last possible second before the dream went black, blocking both Ricky and her own sight. This lasted only for a chime before the dream burst into color.

They were sitting in the middle of a sparkling spider web. The twinkling stars hung from the glittery threads, still bouncing in place among the vibrating lines. The clear bubble they sat in creaked in protest at their movements. Not because there was a risk of it breaking but because the bubble did not want to go against the motion the spider web asked for. The web was asking the bubble to vibrate, to shift. And the bubble was protesting, trying to keep under Lixue and Ricky’s feet. Trying to obey the people inside the bubble instead of the acting forces outside.

When a star broke away from the web, the thread it had been connected to would snap audibly before recoiling and disappearing into the dark. Lixue could only assume the dream would end when the web was completely unraveled, releasing the bubble from its tight grip. Would they float into the darkness and disappear? Or explode like the stars had done; decorating the sky with a thousand glittery particles slowly dying like embers in an unfed fire? Mayhap she was wrong, though, and the dream could end any moment. Any tick. If so, what would be the point? Was there a point to this dream or were they only to experience these things for no reason at all?

Lixue’s thoughts were interrupted as she noticed a star that was seemingly growing toward her. With each passing tick, the star grew larger, attempting to dictate Lixue’s sight. And it worked. Lixue’s almost green eyes latched onto the star, trying to decipher the picture within. Would this be another relative? Her father? One of her siblings? Would this person give her something as well? If so, what? How would the image end? With the star exploding like Ricky’s father had or simply disappear like Natal had?

Lixue ignored the racing of her heart. Instead of an actual person in the star, there was a video. A scene was enacted before her eyes, involving herself and a Jamoura from the Spires. The Jamoura had a bandage over his eyes and Lixue was holding his hand, helping guide him walking. He stumbled, tripping over a protruding root and Lixue scrambled to keep him upright. Even though she was petite enough to where it did not matter. Her strength would not keep the Jamoura on his feet. If he had fallen and landed on her, Lixue could have been seriously injured. But the Jamoura caught his balance and kept shuffling along, feel the way with his toes before fully stepping down.

Dansh. The dark Jamoura had been one of the many Lixue had helped heal in the Spires. He had been on a capture trip with two others when they were attacked by a Feral Jamoura. Dansh had suffered from head trauma and a stick was stuck through his hand. Although Lixue was able to remove the stick, his hand had been immobile for quite a while and needed rehabilitation. It was an amazing feat, being able to say he could even use the hand after a stick had pierced it so fully, completely in the middle of all his muscles. The head trauma had rendered Dansh blind.

Working with the Jamoura after the incident was difficult. Even more so when Dansh discovered his partner had been killed. The Jamoura did not want to keep living and, more than once, had to be force fed. Lixue designed a plate splint into pieces so he could better eat and know where his food was. But Dansh was not happy and even with all the attempts from the doctors, Dansh suffered from depression and anxiety. Lixue worked hand in hand with the big man, helping bring him back to life. Helped keep him living.

The scene switched showing Lixue laughing and Dansh smiling slightly. The bandage was still over his eyes but the one from his hand had been removed. An ugly scar lay in the center of his palm. Lixue was encouraging Dansh to work on closing his hand, a difficult task at best. The Jamoura had managed to close his palm around a fruit and, only by feeling, was able to tell Lixue what fruit was. They had both been ecstatic. Dansh began to have more hope. Slowly, progress was made. Dansh tried harder at the rehabilitation appointments and began to laugh more. He recovered.

As the star fell back onto the web, which snatched the star back and covered it with glittering thread, Lixue gave a sad smile. She knew what this star had meant, what symbol it stood for, and what message she was to learn.

She would recover with time.

by **Ricky Maze** on November 8th, 2012, 3:29 am

The dream shifted around them and before Ricky couod tell what it was he witnessed her star as it shimmered and then began to fade like his. Both star's that were there before them imploded and fell to the faintest glimmer into nothing, the crystal tears they shedded disappearing like remnants of a forgot shell. When Ricky realized that what had formed was a web, he felt the bubble hum as a sharp crack apeared straight down the middle. Unaware that this web was how these stars were connected, a strand formed between two different pairs, both racing around them like magical pixies. However the nature in these stars was far from magical....

He could see within one of them a scene that played out, the late tide that rolled into the docks of Zeltiva. The night of the storm.... Caught off guard his expression was one of awe, as he finally made the connection to what these star's were. He watched the horror of the tide crash as the obelisks rose from the sea, destroying the docks of Zeltiva and his house in a matter of minutes. He didn't realize that the star was imploding as well though, for after seeing the catastrophic event that just played out caught his attention was totally fixated.

"Memories..." He murmured as he began to wrap his mind around it, yet he wasn't there when his house was destroued. Perhaps the memory of the house in general? He couldn't say for sure, but he felt pretty positive that the next set of star's were not going to be happy ones.